Kolkata’s small and medium businesses (SMBs) are entering what researchers call their most confident decade, with a new LinkedIn study showing that 93% are already investing in or planning to adopt AI. The digital pivot is backed by strong optimism, as 87% of SMB decision-makers expect business growth in the coming year, signalling a shift toward smarter systems, skilled talent, and trusted digital tools.
According to the report, SMBs now view AI as essential infrastructure, not an experiment. Operational efficiency (56%), competitiveness through AI and automation (55%), and market expansion (50%) have emerged as the top priorities. “Kolkata’s SMBs are moving from ‘startup hustle’ to ‘strategic muscle’,” said Kumaresh Pattabiraman, Country Manager, LinkedIn India, highlighting the shift toward efficiency, skills-first hiring, and digital expansion.
In Kolkata, AI-driven hiring and marketing are rapidly becoming mainstream. Businesses are prioritising digital literacy, AI fluency, and data analysis, while 61% now use AI-led marketing tools—a trend that mirrors the city’s fast-growing appetite for digital customer outreach. Local SMBs say these tools help them operate with the precision of larger enterprises, especially in competitive urban markets.The study also notes that 95% of SMBs prioritise trusted platforms, with data security and seamless integration topping the list. Together, these shifts reflect the rise of a more resilient and digitally confident SMB ecosystem in Kolkata.